Quote:
Originally Posted by ThaVirus
Stop it.
Those past OLs were top 5 units all-time. We would be ecstatic if this new collection ended up being top 5 this season.
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absolutely they were, with no real WR threat and a statue at QB along with a RB that was neither big, nor fast, but simply smart and followed his blocking while being a good receiver out of the backfield.
This OL can be just as successful, without being as individually good, because of the stress that Mahomes, Hill, Kelce, and CEH will put on defenses. Along with the next tier of Hardman, and the rookie Gray.
We'll never know if this line is truly the equal of that one because this line will never play in front of an immobile, weak armed but intellectually above average QB and below average skill position talent outside of TE. At least, we sincerely hope not or it means we're in injury hell and the season may well be in the tank.
But I would suggest that it's entirely possible that they will be elite, and be elite very quickly barring serious injuries. The talent upside is absolutely there.
Think of it this way-Roaf was the best OT ever to play the game; but Brown may well function as well as Roaf did IN THIS OFFENSE. Would I trade Brown for a 24 year old Willie Roaf? No, but is there necessarily a FUNCTIONAL difference? Or with Thuney and Shields? Maybe there will be, and I'm just projecting my hopes. Probably there's some of that there. But I don't think that's out of the realm of possibility.
It'll always be an apples and oranges comparison, but I think while I'm being optimistic, not wildly so.